into trouble,
too," said the girl of the Red Mill, in return. "But I believe there is
a chance for us to get away without his help, dear."

"Oh, how?" demanded her chum.

"Did you look along the shore when we were down there to the lake just
now?"

"Yes. In both directions. There wasn't a soul in sight but you and
myself and that woman," returned Helen, showing that she had been
observant to a degree, at least.

"You are right. It is a lonely spot. I saw nobody. But I saw a fishing
punt."

"A fishing punt?"

"Yes. Pulled up on the shore a little way. There is a pole in it, too.
It can be pushed off into the water easily, and I did not see another
boat of any kind in either direction."

"Oh, Ruth! Neither did I. I didn't even see the boat you speak of."

"It is there just the same. We can reach it in one minute from here--by
running."

"Let's run, then!" whispered Helen, energetically.

"We'll wait our chance. They are watching too closely now. By and by
they must get more careless. Then we'll try it."

"But I don't just see what we can do in that boat," queried Helen, after
a moment's thought.

"Push out into the lake, so that they can't reach us. Then risk being
seen by Tom or somebody else who will help us escape the Gypsies."

"But these men will follow us," said Helen, with a shudder. "They can
swim--some of them--surely."

"And if they try it, we'll beat them off with the push-pole," declared
Ruth. "Keep up your pluck, Helen. They will not really dare hurt
us--especially if they expect to get money for our release. And I'd like
to know," added Ruth, with rather a bitter little laugh, "who will pay
_my_ ransom?"

"I'll make father pay whatever they ask," whispered Helen. "Oh, dear!
won't he be just _mad_ when he hears about it?"

Soon the activities of the camp changed. It was plain to the two girls
that their captors had no intention of spending the day in this dell by
the lake side.

A number of the men and boys had gone off with some of the horses early.
Now they returned, and it was evident that the men were angry, if not a
little frightened. They talked loudly with Zelaya, and the Queen of the
Gypsies seemed to be scolding them soundly.

It was surprising to the visitors at the camp that the old woman should
have such influence over these black-browed ruffians. But she _did_
possess a power; it was self-evident!

Soon preparations were begun for shifting camp. The tents were struck
a